Automatic safety gas cut-off



` P. P. CATALANO. AUTOMATIC SAFETY GAS GUT-OFF. `APPLICATION FILED MAR.l30, 1921.

1,416,169. Patented May 16, 1922. 6 f f .2.19%

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vUNITED STATES i ,PiATNT otros.v

PETER PANEPINTO oArAmaNO,v or NORTH oOLLINsiiEw vonk.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY eas OUT-Orr.`

Specification of Letters Patent. y tnted Dirty Application ledMarch 30,1921. Serial No. 456,926.

new and useful Improvements in Automaticv Safety Gas Cut-Offs, of whichthefollowing is a specification. Y

This invention relates to a safetyy gas cut off for use in gas systemswhere the pressure, at times, becomes abnormally low with the resultthat the flame goes out and later, when the pressure increases, the gasescapes with obvious danger to human life. A A

In the present invention one of the ob-` jects is to provide a device ofthis character which is so constructed that an increase in pressure ofthe gas, after the gas pressure has once diminished, positively shutsoff the gas flow until a manual release device has been operated topermit the flow to continue.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a device ofthis character which is gravity actuated for shut-off.

A further feature resides in the use of a ball valve in this class ofdevice which cooperates with a second ball which forms a stop means topermit the flow of gas through the device until the second ball fallsaway from the lirst.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a device constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the valve open;

Figure 3 is a modilied form of the device.

In detail:

The invention, as herein shown for the purpose of illustrating theinvention, comprises a casing 1 having the horizontal -passage 2connecting with a concentric passage 3 of smaller diameter than thepassage 2 and having lugs 4 at its inner end for a purpose to behereinafter described. The inlet end of the passage 2 receives a thimble5 which has seated thereon a disk 6 provided with a small hole 7 toadmit the gas, while the other end of the thimble is formed as at 8 toprovide a valve seat for a ball 9 retained within the thimble. A capplug 10 seats against the end of the disk 6 and prevents the same fromcoming out and the end of the gas supply pipe 11 screws against this capplug.

At right angles to the passage 2 is a threaded opening 12 which receivesthe plunger casi-ng which carries a plunger 14 having a head 15 seatingonthe partition y16, the stem 17 of saidplunger being threaded toreceive a plunger knob 18 which serves to confine the spring-19 so thatthe plunger head 15 will normally be in the po' sition shown inFigure 1. Lying within the end of the plunger casing 13 and `restingupon the top `of the plunger head 15 is a ball 20. .Y

.The operation ofthe device as shown in Figures 1 and k2 is as'follows:

Gas,-entering at 11, when the ball 2O is in the position shown in Figure1, moves the ball 9 to itsseat 8 with the result that gascannot passthereby. However, suppose thatit is desired to have gas pass to theoutlet 3, the plunger knob 1S is vpressed which carries the ball 2O tothe position shown in Figure 2 wherein it rests on the lugs 4y andpushes the ball 9 from its seat slightly with he result that gas flowsthrough the out- If the pressure of gas should now fall below normal theresult would be that the pressure on the ball 9 would be relievedallowing the ball 20 to drop down ontol the plunger head 15 so that thenext time the gas came on at its full pressure the ball 9 would move tothe position shown in Figure 1. In this way the gas wouldbe preventedfrom escaping and the supply would be .closed until such time as theoperator pressed the plunger knob 18.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 3, and which operates onexactly the samel principle as that justpreviously described, the inletand outlet passages are at right angles to each other. The ball 21operates in a seat thimble 22 and is held off its seat by a ball-23operated by the plunger 24 which is carried by a plunger casing 25threaded onto the valve casing, as at 26. A spring 27 resting againstthe plunger casing and a button 28 serves to normally maintain the ballin the position shown in Figure 2.

It is to be particularly noted that the construction of the plunger 16and its casing as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the plunger 24 and itscasing, as shown in kFigure 3, are arranged to form a valve so that nogas can escape around the plunger in either case.`

While, in the foregoing, I have shown specific embodiments of theinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that in carrying the sameinto practice I may resort to such modifications as fall within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a gas cut-oil", the combination of a casing having aninlet passage and an outlet passage and provided with a valve seat inthe inlet passage, a valve disposed within the inlet passage and held toits seat by the di-' casing having an inlet passage and an outletpassage and provided with a valve seat across the inlet passage, afreely movable rvalve mounted in the inlet passage and heldto its seatby direct pressure of gas in the inlet passage, an unseating devicenormally interposed between the valve and the outlet pas sage and inContact with the valve and a diametrically opposite point-ofthey casingwhereby to hold the valve ol the seat, said device being movable bygravity from contact with the valve upon reduction of pressure on thevalve, and means for resetting thesaid device.

3. In a glas cut-off, the combination of a casing having an inletpassage and an outlet passage, a thimble secured in the inlet passageand having its kinner end formed into a valve seat, a freelymovablevalve mounted within said thimble and held to the seat by directpressure of gas entering the casing, the valve projecting through theseat When in closed position, an unseating bo'dymounted in the casingbeyond the valveseat and adapted to be held by lpressure of gas incontact with the valve and aninterior wall of the casing wherebyvtomaintain theV valve PETER PANEPlNT CATALANO. [Lus] i normally unseated,said body being. releas-`

